ISS expedition 32

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Mission emblem
ISS Expedition 32 Patch.svg
Mission dates
Mission: ISS expedition 32
Crew: 6th
Rescue ships: Soyuz TMA-04M , Soyuz TMA-05M
Space station: International space station
Start: July 1, 2012, 04:47 UTC
Started by: Decoupling from Soyuz TMA-03M
The End: September 16, 2012, 11:09 pm UTC
Ended by: Decoupling from Soyuz TMA-04M
Duration: 77d 18h ​​22min
Number of EVAs : 3
Team photo
v. l. To right: Akihiko Hoshide, Juri Malentschenko, Sunita Williams, Joseph Acaba, Gennadi Padalka and Sergei Rewin
v. l. To right: Akihiko Hoshide, Juri Malentschenko, Sunita Williams, Joseph Acaba, Gennadi Padalka and Sergei Rewin
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ISS-Expedition 32 is the mission name for the 32nd long-term crew of the International Space Station (ISS). The mission began on July 1, 2012 at 4:47 UTC with the decoupling of the Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft from the ISS. The end was marked by the decoupling of Soyuz TMA-04M on September 17, 2012.

team

additionally from July 17th, 2012

Substitute team

Since Expedition 20, no official replacement team has been announced due to the permanent training for the six-person crew. Unofficially, the backup crews of the two Soyuz feeder spaceships TMA-04M and TMA-05M (see there) are used as backup crews for Expedition 32. As a rule, these crews are deployed two missions later.

Mission description

During the service period of Expedition 32, three exits were completed. During the outboard work, a crane arm was relocated, a switching unit was replaced, a new power cable was laid, meteorite protection plates were installed, a camera was changed and an experiment box was recovered. New cargo came to the station with a Progress freighter and an HTV. An ATV had already moored at the stern in March. This not only delivered experiments, fuel and consumables to the ISS, but also raised its orbit to an average of more than 410 km. Many of the more than 200 ongoing scientific investigations were supervised or carried out by the crew. A part of it, however, ran largely automatically on the outside or inside the station. Another part requires supervision from time to time. In experiments with a biological-medical content, however, the spacemen are the main actors and objects of investigation in equal measure. The seventh crew member, Robonaut 2 , also completed a continuous test program .

Crew change

With the return of the crew of the Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft , the expedition 31 ended. The crew of the Soyuz TMA-04M did not remain alone for long. Soyuz TMA-05M took off on July 15th and linked up with the station two days later. The crew of the spacecraft consisted of Yuri Malenchenko, who already completed his fifth space flight, Sunita Williams, who was part of an ISS crew for the second time, and Akihiko Hoshide, for whom it was also the second space flight. Gennadi Padalka, Joseph Acaba and Sergej Rewin, who have been in space since mid-May, are already waiting on board the station. Both teams immediately began their work as an ISS expedition.

Freight traffic

Konotori on the lower coupling unit of the ISS module Harmony

On July 21, the Japanese cargo ship Kounotori 3 ( HTV 3) launched into space at the tip of an H-IIB launcher from the Tanegashima space site . There were about 4.6 tons of cargo on board in the form of experiments, food, utensils and clothing. The cylindrical spacecraft navigated close to the space station on July 27, stopped about 10 meters below the Bugs Station and was then coupled to the Harmony module by means of the manipulator arm by a member of ISS Expedition 32 .

Some of the cargo was housed in a non-pressurized area of ​​the spacecraft . This involved, on the one hand, a Japanese unit for the joint supervision of various experiments (MCE) and, on the other hand, a complex of devices for carrying out communication experiments in different radio bands, which is provided and used by NASA .

The Space Communication and Navigation Testbed (SCaN) has three programmable radios and associated antennas in the S, L and Ka bands . SCaN was developed under the direction of the Glenn Research Center at NASA, supplied by General Dynamics , Harris Corporation and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (all USA). Various wireless configurations controlled by software were tested with the apparatus to be attached to the grid structure. The programming could be done by commissioned companies as well as by solutions submitted voluntarily, for example by teams from universities or industry.

Also on board of Kounotori 3 was a launch facility for small satellites and 5 cubesats , which were later launched during the mission of the Japanese spaceman Akihiko Hoshide. The lock in the Kibo module is used for this. The payloads were transported individually out of the station, brought into position with the Japanese manipulator arm and then pushed away. The satellites were RAIKO (earth exploration, orbit measurement, high-speed data transmission, brake sails), FITSAT-1 (LED communication), WE WISH (infrared images, training), F-1 (earth exploration, sensors, magnetic field position control) and TechEdSat (communication via Satellite telephone networks).

Also on board HTV 3 were two data recorders that recorded data during the re-entry of the spacecraft. A ReEntry Breakup Recorder came from the USA, which had already been tested on a previous mission. Japan provided the i-Ball, which was even equipped with a camera.

After unloading, the scientific equipment of the ISS also included an aquarium to investigate the long-term effects of weightlessness on muscle and bone substance in fish (aquatic habitat). It can automatically take care of the fish and has integrated sensors for recording the most important parameters.

As part of Youtube Spacelab, two winners were named in March, whose experiments were transported to the International Space Station with HTV 3. This involved, on the one hand, an investigation into how the ability of bacteria to combat fungal growth changes in weightlessness, and, on the other hand, the adaptation of a zebra spider to weightlessness was researched.

After a flight of just 5 hours and 43 minutes, the Progress-M 16M freighter, launched on August 1st, moored at the International Space Station. This tested a new rendezvous procedure that has been used on manned Soyuz spaceships since 2013. So far, around 50 hours have been scheduled for approach, approach and docking. This approximately two-day flight to space stations has been common since Progress 1 in January 1978 and was also adopted for manned spaceships with the construction of the Mir space station in 1986. Previously, approx. 24 hours were usual here for approach and coupling. At that time, the transition to the two-day approach was justified with fuel savings.

Progress-M 16M has reached the station in a record time.

Progress-M 16M took off from Baikonur at around 9:35 p.m. CEST. After 9 minutes, the spaceship, which was loaded with 2,639 kilograms of cargo, was separated from the upper level and unfolded its solar cell panels. In addition to fuel, oxygen, water, food and consumables, materials for the Visier, MATI 75, Relaksazija, SLS, Vektor-T, Tipologija, Aseptik, Schenschen 2, Kaskad, Biodegradazija and Kulonowski crystal as well as equipment for the Russian were on board and the US-based segment of the ISS.

After a self-test, the spacecraft's engines were put into operation for the first time at around 10:25 p.m. This was followed by a series of corrective maneuvers, which brought the spaceship within 3 orbits of the earth close to the International Space Station. The Progress-M 16M then flew around the station so that the Pirs module was directly in front of it. The distance was then reduced as planned and docked around 3:18 a.m. CEST.

On July 31, the predecessor, Progress-M 15M, had finally disconnected from Pirs and moved away from the station. He arrived at the ISS in April and cast off for the first time on July 22nd. Afterwards, a new coupling was tested, whereby an improved radar system was used with course NA . Due to a temperature or sensor problem, the coupling only worked on the second attempt on July 29th.

On September 12, the unmanned freighter Kounotori 3 was decoupled from the station using the Canadarm2 station manipulator. Previously, two systems (REBR and i-Ball) had been installed and activated to record certain parameters during the re-entry, which was destructive to the spaceship. This took place in the morning hours of September 14th.

Orbit maneuvers

A maneuver carried out on August 15 to raise the mean orbit height of the International Space Station using the engines of the ATV "Edoardo Amaldi" attached to the stern was shorter than planned. Instead of the planned 31 minutes and 16 seconds for a speed increase of 4.4 meters per second, the drive of the ATV was switched off after about 22 minutes and 30 seconds. This only increased the speed by 2.91 meters per second. The reason for this is stated by the ESA that a temperature sensor on one of the two ATV engines not involved in the propulsion process determined a value that was too high and passed it on to the controller on board the ISS. The drive process was then aborted, which was not the expected response to such a process. In order to give those responsible enough time to analyze errors and plan further measures, it was agreed to make up for the additional correction a few days later.

Lifts are usually carried out at irregular intervals, on the one hand to compensate for the loss of height due to the friction in the extremely thin air that still occurs at an altitude of more than 400 kilometers. Another reason is the fine adjustment of the runway for upcoming events such as docking or landings.

On August 22nd, the previously canceled orbit raising maneuver was completed. For this purpose, two engines of the ATV 3 were activated during two combustion phases, increasing the speed of the entire complex by 5.8 meters per second. The station thus rose to a higher orbit with an average of 416 kilometers (perigee: 406 km, apogee: 427 km).

External works

1. Exit

On August 20, Gennady Padalka and Yuri Malenchenko carried out an external mission. The two experienced cosmonauts were supposed to do various jobs on the outside of the station. At first there was a delay of about an hour due to a leak inside. The exit began with work on relocating the Strela 2 mechanical crane arm from the Pirs coupling and lock module to the Sarja multi-purpose module. The Strela 1 , which was relocated to Poisk a few months ago , was used for this purpose.

Afterwards a passive, spherical small satellite for tracing the orbit by "throwing" was released. This process was followed by the installation of 5 meteorite protection panels on the outside of the Zvezda service module. The planned tasks were then completed. In addition, brackets were attached to a ladder and a container from the BioRisk experiment was dismantled and stowed in a transport container. This was then taken inside the station. It contains biological samples that have been exposed to the harsh environment outside the station for months. They were examined more closely after their return to earth.

Both astronauts tried in vain to close another container with material samples on the outside of Pirs in order to subsequently recover it as well. However, the experimental carrier was stubborn and so this additional task was canceled. The exit ended after 5 hours and 51 minutes.

2. Exit

When Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide left on September 1, a power cable was laid from the Unity module via PMA-1 to Sarja . This is to be extended to the head section of Zvezda in the event of a later external mission and serve to supply the Naúka research module with energy. It will also be followed by a second cable, so that afterwards all 4 power distributors in the grid segment S0 of the US-based part of the ISS are connected to the Russian segment. This happened with several exits from the following ISS expeditions in 2013.

Since one of the power distributors had failed, it had to be replaced. After the defective device was dismantled, it was attached to a storage platform and the replacement device was transported to the installation site. The transport was carried out using the large station manipulator, which was operated from inside the ISS. During installation, a problem arose with a screw that could not be screwed in correctly, even with increased torque and cleaning of both threads. After provisional fastening but without the correct connection to the cooling system and energy network, the two spacemen ended the mission after 8 hours and 17 minutes.

A different procedure had been used to prepare for the spacecraft operation. Instead of spending the night in the Quest lock module and breathing pure oxygen there, a nearly two-hour procedure was used in which Williams and Hoshide, wearing an oxygen mask and sometimes in a space suit, performed light sporting exercises in order to breathe out the nitrogen dissolved in the blood. This is necessary in order to prevent the nitrogen from peeling off in the blood under the low pressure conditions of the US spacesuits.

3. Exit

On September 5, Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide made a second exit to correctly install Main Bus Switching Unit 1 ( MBSU). To do this, it first had to be dismantled and temporarily stored nearby. Then the base thread and bolts H2 were cleaned with compressed air and a wire brush and lubricated with a modified toothbrush. A trial bolt could then be screwed in. After renewed lubrication, the H2 bolt was screwed in correctly and completely with the MBSU installed. This now sat properly on a cooling plate and could then be activated.

A defective camera on the Canadarm2 station manipulator was then replaced, whereupon the outboard operation was successfully completed after 6 hours and 28 minutes. During the exit, the two spacemen wore Russian dosimeters. Sunita Williams also took over the top position in the list of space workers with 44 hours and 2 minutes in 6 missions from her colleague Peggy Whitson .

Maintenance work and experiments

During the months of August and September, in addition to routine tasks, various scientific investigations or preparations for them were on the crew's work program. The video system was tested in the Aquatic Habitat, a Japanese freshwater aquarium. Initially, fish of the genus Oryzias latipes (Medaka) were kept in the aquarium. These are semi-transparent so that bone and muscle wasting and the work of various organs can be observed directly from the outside. One would also like to study the effects of increased radiation and developmental changes ( modifications and mutations ). In addition, it is helpful that Medakas have a high rate of reproduction. Fish can be kept in the aquarium for about 90 days before water replacement and maintenance are required.

In addition, the Orlan MS spacesuits used on August 20 were cleaned and dried, drinking water was refilled, the dosimeters removed for reading, a fire test on solid materials was carried out in a glove box, the air quality was determined with various systems and regular psychological tests were carried out (WinSCAT ), with which the development of memory, memory, abstraction and thinking skills can be checked during long space flights.

The program also included examinations on the cardiovascular system (Integrated Cardiovascular / Kardiomed) and the measurement of oxygen uptake during exercise. In addition, preparations were made for the US exit on September 1, an educational film on the separation of liquids and gases in weightlessness was filmed (Fisika Obrasowanije), a Canadian experiment with colloids started (BCAT), the dosimeter was repositioned in the Matryoshka radiation measurement experiment and morning reaction tests carried out.

Robonaut 2 is being prepared for a mission.

Robonaut 2 was also allowed to continue its test program. To do this, he was brought into a specific working position and a switchboard was placed in front of him. Activated from the ground, this time he also operated a few rotary knobs, while in previous work phases he had pressed buttons and toggle switches. Shortly afterwards he worked again with panel 1.

Robonaut 2 was active again in late August / early September. At the control panels C and D he practiced a. a. to take a smear, to hold on to a handrail and then wipe it off.

Further scientific studies focused on environmental monitoring in the station (air quality, biofilms on walls and equipment), medicine and the supervision of largely autonomous experiments such as BCAT (behavior of colloids), KASKAD or FASA (recording the behavior of a mixture of liquid and gas in weightlessness for educational purposes).

An example of medical examinations is an experiment in which the ability of the heart tissue to stretch when the blood distribution changes ( Gauer-Henry reflex ) is examined. To do this, the test person in the ward wears negative pressure pants (Tschibis) and steps from one leg to the other. The negative pressure pants hardly offer more mobility. While the pressure is reduced by up to 50 hPa in several stages, the size of internal organs, in this case that of the heart, is measured using special equipment.

With VISIR, a new device was tested for the first time, which should enable the automatic alignment of a camera to certain earth targets. Then photos are taken and prepared for transmission to earth. In the future, this should relieve space travelers, who often receive certain additional photo jobs for current events. This week, for example, there was a flood on the Black Sea.

The crew also dealt with the testing of new photo and communication technology, examinations of the human immune system (IMMUNO), radiation measurements in various parts of the station (including matryoshka), investigations into responsiveness, stress resistance, muscle and bone loss (including special diets for To relieve rapid bone loss) and cardiovascular tests. Maintenance work affected a large number of the station's systems, such as the air monitoring and cleaning systems, toilets, experimental facilities, water treatment, computers and sports equipment.

Mention should also be made of the CRHYT biorhythm experiment, in which a test person wears special sensors for 36 hours, the measured values ​​of which are recorded and later evaluated. At SONOKARD, a space traveler wears a special shirt that records important life parameters. As part of ASEPTIK, it is investigated how experimental facilities can be kept germ-free over a longer period of time. Using negative pressure pants (Tschibis), loads can be simulated that correspond to those caused by gravity on earth. With VETEROK, a new electrostatic air cleaning system is being tested, which can better filter organic substances from the air by means of brief ionization. Hearing, vision and reaction tests in different phases of a long-term flight help to determine physical and psychological changes. With VISIR and the ISS Agricultural Camera (ISSAC), images of various areas were automatically made. For this purpose, the cameras have computer controls and special sensors. While VISIR was still in trial mode, the ISSAC was used to capture images of pastures, forests, meadows and wetlands in the US for agricultural assessments and educational purposes.

The optical recording of lengthy physical processes in weightlessness also served for education. For this purpose, the separation of liquid and gaseous phases in a container was pursued as part of FASA. The new experiment Coulomb crystal also dealt with the arrangement of electrically charged particles in weightlessness. The Aquatic Habitat, which is also new, was already in test operation in September. Here the life and development of fish over several generations should be observed.

Mention should also be made of a combustion experiment, the material science investigations Kaskad and BCAT (colloids in weightlessness), investigations into the structural dynamics of the station (identificazija). Further studies on humans concerned changes in lung function (lung volume, oxygen uptake within the scope of VO2max), noise measurements by stationary and mobile sensors, and the effectiveness of special training with strong but only short-term stress to reduce muscle and bone loss (SPRINT).

As part of YouTube SpaceLab, two student experiments were selected to be carried out in space. One of them examines the life of a spider in weightlessness. This experiment has now been prepared. At certain times, there will be live broadcasts from the ISS.

Mission end

Landing of the Soyuz TMA-04M return capsule

The ISS expedition 32 ended with the casting off of the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft on September 16, 2012 at around 11:09 p.m. UTC. The day before, Gennadi Padalka handed over command of the station to Sunita Williams, who is the second woman in it Position is. The landing of the command module of the Soyuz spacecraft took place around 2:52 UTC in the Kazakh steppe northeast of Arkalyk. On board were Gennadi Padalka, Joseph Acaba and Sergej Rewin. You spent a total of 125 days in space, working most of the time on board the ISS.

See also

Web links

Commons : ISS Expedition 32  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Expedition 32nd NASA, accessed on September 17, 2012 (English).
  2. ↑ Klaus Donath: Landing: Andre Kuipers ends PromISSe mission. Raumfahrer.net, July 1, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  3. ↑ New ISS crew with Soyuz TMA 05M on the way. Raumfahrer.net, July 15, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  4. ↑ ISS crew in full strength again. Raumfahrer.net, July 17, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  5. ↑ Kounotori 3 on the way to the ISS. Raumfahrer.net, July 21, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  6. ↑ Kounotori 3 arrived at ISS. Raumfahrer.net, July 27, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  7. ↑ a b Rendezvous tests with Progress-M 15M and 16M. Raumfahrer.net, July 23, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  8. ↑ Express freight with Progress-M 16M to the ISS. Raumfahrer.net, August 2, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  9. ↑ Course NA test successful on the second attempt. Raumfahrer.net, July 29, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  10. ↑ Kounotori 3 burns up. Raumfahrer.net, September 15, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  11. ↑ ATV orbit correction maneuver too short. Raumfahrer.net, August 16, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  12. ↑ a b c Seven active people on the ISS. Raumfahrer.net, August 24, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  13. ↑ Exit and a screw problem. Raumfahrer.net, September 2, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  14. ↑ The last two weeks on the ISS. Raumfahrer.net, September 16, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .
  15. ↑ Soyuz-TMA 04M landed. Raumfahrer.net, September 17, 2012, accessed June 18, 2013 .